By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) Twitter: @J_Keelerman
Japan is rising to
prominence on the Breeders’ Cup. The nation picked up its first two Breeders’
Cup wins in 2021 and is fielding its largest contingent of contenders up to now
for 2024: 19 horses, together with six two-year-olds pre-entered in 4 totally different
races.
Japan hasn’t discovered success
but from restricted starters within the Breeders’ Cup juvenile races. However which will
change this 12 months, as a result of the Japanese juveniles deliver severe expertise to the
desk.
Let’s evaluation their
credentials:
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash (G1)
Ecoro Sieg
Velocity is the identify of the
sport for Ecoro Sieg. A pacesetting son of Twirling Sweet, Ecoro Sieg is unbeaten
in two begins sprinting 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on grass in Japan,
and his profitable instances have been eye-catching.
Ecoro Sieg debuted on Aug.
17 in a race for first-time starters at Niigata. Going through 17 rivals, he dashed to
the lead below jockey Christophe Lemaire and by no means appeared again, clocking his
remaining 600 meters (about three furlongs) in a fast 34.6 seconds to win by 5
lengths in 1:08.9, simply lacking the juvenile course file of 1:08.7 set again
in 2002.
Not glad to merely
chase course information, Ecoro Sieg smashed a file in his second begin. Tackling
the Canna S. at Nakayama, Ecoro Sieg set fractions of :21.8 and :43.80 on his
strategy to victory by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:07.2, obliterating the earlier file of
1:07.8 set in 2001.
Ecoro Sieg is clearly a
particular younger runner with a brilliant future. Do not be shocked if he outsprints
all comers within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)
American Bikini
If American Bikini had been a
colt, I might be hyping her credentials as a 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) risk.
That is how a lot expertise she’s proven so far.
A daughter of Triple Crown
winner American Pharoah out of Teaching Membership American Oaks (G1) winner Paris
Lights, American Bikini has competed solely towards males. In her debut
sprinting 1,200 meters at Kyoto, she completed second towards Pleased Man. Since
then, she’s been unstoppable.
American Bikini’s second
begin yielded a seven-length romp in a maiden race sprinting 1,000 meters (about
5 furlongs) at Kokura. She carved out the tempo on her strategy to a profitable time
of :57.2, breaking the juvenile monitor file of :57.7 set in 2008.
Stepping up at school for the
Yamaboshi Sho (an allowance) racing 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) at
Chukyo proved to be no impediment. Once more, American Bikini set the tempo. Once more,
she dominated, profitable by 2 1/2 lengths over a area together with Pleased Man. Her
profitable time of 1:23.6 matched the juvenile monitor file set in 2020.
When it comes to Beyer Velocity
Figures, this 12 months’s U.S.-based Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies candidates have not
been working particularly quick. American Bikini could have come of age within the
excellent 12 months to ship overseas and snatch the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
trophy.
Otomena Shacho
Some bettors could underestimate
Otomena Shacho as a result of she completed seven lengths behind American Bikini when
the latter broke her maiden at Kokura. However that would show to be a mistake.
Otomena Shacho adopted up
that defeat with a maiden victory of her personal. Closely favored to win a
1,200-meter maiden race over a muddy monitor at Chukyo, Otomena Shacho set the
tempo and romped by 5 lengths in 1:10.7, breaking the earlier juvenile monitor
file of 1:11.1 set in 2021.
A daughter of champion
sprinter Speightstown out of a mare by two-time Horse of the Yr Curlin,
Otomena Shacho has the pedigree to deal with stretching out over 1 1/16 miles. A
top-three end within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies is not out of the
query.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)
Ecoro Azel
Ecoro Azel appears to be like like one in all
the longer photographs among the many Japanese contingent. Whereas he received his debut
sprinting 1,200 meters at Niigata by 2 1/2 lengths, he adopted up with a
fifth-place end (crushed 6 1/4 lengths) towards American Bikini within the
Yamaboshi Sho. The son of speedy sprinter Shancelot may have a step ahead to
problem towards this deep Breeders’ Cup Juvenile area.
Shin Imagine
Shin Imagine has solely run
as soon as, however he delivered on expectations. Favored to win a race for first-time
starters over 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) at Niigata, Shin Imagine proved
sufficiently match to trace the tempo and win by 5 lengths in 1:54.7.
At first look, that point
might sound sluggish. But it surely’s truly respectable for a juvenile working lengthy over
one in all Japan’s comparatively sluggish filth surfaces. The juvenile monitor file for 1,800
meters at Niigata is 1:53.0.
Shin Imagine is eligible to enhance
off his debut, so do not rely the son of Structure out of the combination as a stay
longshot within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1)
Satono Carnaval
Gifted? Examine.
Completed? Examine. It is arduous to foretell how Satono Carnaval will stack up
towards the always-formidable European raiders within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Turf, however there is not any doubt the son of Japanese sensation Kitasan Black is a
promising colt.
Satono Carnaval obtained began
in a 1,400-meter grass sprint for first-time starters at Tokyo. The consequence? A
seven-length romp towards 9 rivals. Satono Carnaval raced in midfield early
on earlier than rocketing his remaining 600 meters in :34.0 (the quickest break up within the
area by a full second) to file a profitable time of 1:23.6.
Satono Carnaval subsequently
stepped up at school for the 1,200-meter Hakodate Nisai (G3) at Hakodate. He had
to work tougher than in his debut, however by working the ultimate 600 meters in :34.8,
he chased down the pacesetter to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:09.2.
Stretching out over one mile
for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf is an apparent impediment for Satono Carnaval,
however his pedigree suggests the added distance will not be a difficulty, and there is a
probability he’ll issue at a worth in his first begin outdoors Japan.
Now it is your flip! Which of
these Japanese juveniles do you intend on betting?
*****
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J. Keeler Johnson (also called “Keelerman”) is a author, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing fanatic. A terrific fan of racing historical past, he considers Dr. Fager to be the best racehorse ever produced in America, however counts Zenyatta as his all-time favourite.
